Bears News: Could Dennis Allen reunite with former safety? |
Dustin Riese
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- 8 hours ago
When you look at the Chicago Bears roster and how it stands today, you could make the case that they are one of the most, if not the most, improved roster. Granted, they may not have the best roster, but they were certainly busy this offseason and have positioned themselves for what could be a nice season this year.
A big reason for the dramatic roster shakeup was the vision that Ben Johnson had once he took over as the new head coach. He shared his vision with Ryan Poles, and both of them were on the same page, so they got to work. Once Johnson rounded out his coaching staff, you started to see the vision they had, especially with Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen, who not only has a specific vision for his defense, but knows what he wants from his defense. While most of the defensive roster is accounted for, or at least appears to be, the Bears are one of those teams that will continue to monitor the free agent market for as long as possible, hoping to find more talented pieces. One name that hasn't been mentioned much is starting to see himself connected to the Chicago Bears, as seen in the former Baltimore Ravens safety Marcus Williams. Barring any injuries, Jaquon Brisker and Kevin Byard are expected to enter the season as the starting safeties. However, with Byard entering the final year of his contract and a lack of depth behind both players, Chicago could be looking to add another piece to the back end. Williams makes a ton of sense as he is a veteran who has played in the Allen scheme before during his tenure with the Saints. Even with most of the big-name free agents off the market, plenty of talented players remain, and Williams is one of those players who is still looking for a home and could be a fit in Chicago. He is coming off the worst season of his career with the Ravens, but apart from that, he has been one of the more consistent and reliable players in the game. Across 11 games last season, Williams was almost non-existent as he picked up 33 tackles and two pass breakups. The year before that, he recorded 55 tackles and one interception across 11 games, although he also came away with eight pass breakups in 2022. His first season in Baltimore was arguably his best as a pro, and it came while playing in only 10 games, as injuries have been a problem since he left the Saints. In the first year of his three-year deal with the Ravens in 2021, Williams came away with 61 tackles, eight pass breakups, and a career-high four interceptions, as he was one of the better safeties in the game. Looking at his entire career, the Bears would be getting a guy who not only has 469 tackles, but would be getting a playmaker at safety, as Williams has 20 career interceptions, with one of those being returned for a score. He has also added 56 pass breakups to his total, as Williams has proven time and again that he can still be a force on the defensive end. Even with the injuries piling up and his best days behind him, adding the 6-1 and 204-pound Williams wouldn't be a bad idea, as he brings with him tons of experience and could provide the Bears with the safety depth they lacked last season. Of course, Williams would love a starting role, or at the very least a bigger role than what he would get in Chicago, but being unsigned this late in free agency comes with a price, and that is the price to pay. Should the Bears add Williams, it wouldn't be one of those moves that has the fans jumping out of their seats, especially with how his last few seasons have gone. Not only has the production gone down since 2022, but Williams hasn't been able to stay healthy and was limited to just 11 games last season. Even when he played, the production wasn't there, as he ultimately lost the starting safety spot by week 12 and didn't play in another game for the rest of the season. However, given his success with Allen, he is the one coach who can maximize his potential and put him in the best position to succeed immediately.
